We, the people, are afraid to stand up for what we believe is right. We pass the buck to the person next to us, or to the rabble-rouser who isn’t afraid to push the boundaries of acceptable protest. We sit back and lament the loss of our liberties, but we hesitate to stand up and question those who would limit them. Politicians are elected to serve at the will of the people, not to function independently of the electorate, but it's easier to allow the politician to make the decision and then take the heat if it isn't the decision we were wanting.
This past week, in the midst of the growing alarm with atrocities in Syria, it has become clear that we, the people, do not want to become engaged in yet another war in a foreign country whose people are engaged in civil war, but our elected officials are not hearing us. The track record of US intervention is not good, so many groups of citizens are saying no to opening the door to another prolonged military intervention with no discernible favorable outcome for the US. If the United Nations were in favor of an intervention and a coalition of consensus were present, then the US could debate that intervention in Syria is for the greater good. As long as that standard is not clearly apparent, Syria should continue to fight its own battle and determine its own outcome.
There is a philosophy about people being “blindly subservient to institutional authority,” even to the extent of foregoing one’s individual rights so the institutions can determine them for the individual. We, the people, have often ceded our authority to the institutions, preferring to have someone to blame, rather than accepting responsibility for the governance of our country. When we don’t take a stand at the local level, preferring to assess blame after the fact, rather than questioning the process and the projected outcome prior to the vote being held, then we have no grounds to throw stones at those who do take a stand. President Obama’s thought process this past week illustrates his desire to have institutional authority take precedence over individual rights in his apparent aim at plowing ahead with military intervention in Syria in spite of both the electorate and elected officials nay-saying his cry to arms. If we do not want the President to make an individual decision to take action where the people do not want action taken, then we have to stand up for what we believe, rather than continue to be blindly subservient to institutional authority.
In my youth, we were encouraged to stand up and be counted, to vote so our voice is heard, to speak out when wrongs are committed, and to bear witness to wrong-doing. This strength of character is eroding in our country, with people preferring to leap to conclusions without knowing and/or understanding the issue, or for leaders to encourage action because “I said so.” There is a difference between process and event, and the process must come before the event if it is to go well, as well as end well. We are too quick to arrive at conclusions that may be based on incomplete or inaccurate information, a trait that is encouraged by our public media’s goal to be the first on-air with the news, however incomplete and/or inaccurate, because first with the “facts” makes the “facts” our truth.
It is time for all of us to become more well-educated about our lives, our liberties, and our responsibilities as citizens of a significant nation in a global community. We need to know the truth, based on all the evidence, not just the sound-bite that makes it on-air first and becomes the institutional authority for both action and inaction. The old watchwords from the 60s come to mind: Question Everything!
UPDATE: A local rep, when presented with petitions signed by constituents against any "war" in Syria, responded, "I have not yet made up my mind how to vote when the issue comes up." He, if I understand our electoral process correctly, doesn't "make up" his mind but follows the wishes of his consituency. Ask the voters who elected you to office how THEY want you to vote and then do the job to which you were elected! It's NOT about you; it's about us, the people you serve.
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In many ways, what is even worse is the large percentage of people who are not listening to the President and are "anti-war" when the President has explicitly stated this would not be a "boots on the ground" action, would not be a prolonged military action, and would not be a full-blown war. He has been explicit that this would be a (most likely) drone-based strike against key targets and that's it.
Outside of that issue, I agree with all the points you make. It is time for the gov't to be afraid of its people again.
It is funny how, with all the howling protests over Obama becoming President and getting re-elected, just how similar his administration has been to Bush's two terms. Wars, denial and obfuscation of the law, stripping of rights, nefarious backhand deals, spying, and outright lying by both Presidents, yet the people seem not to care.
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